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The Pentagon will seek $9.16 billion in the 2014 fiscal budget for missile defense programs, which represents around a $550 million drop in funding from the 2013 fiscal budget. "These repeated cuts are even more troubling given the advances in nuclear weapons and missile technology by the unstable regime in North Korea," said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala.

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As Defense Secretary Ash Carter prepares to leave office, he is highlighting efforts to prioritize innovation at the Pentagon. He says such innovation is important as the department counters Russian aggression, manages historic changes in the Asia-Pacific region, strengthens "deterrence and defensive capabilities against North Korea," checks "Iranian aggression and malign influence in the Gulf" and accelerates the end of ISIL.

The U.S. should consider installing a missile-defense system in South Korea to protect against aggression from North Korea, says the top U.S. commander over troops stationed in South Korea. "I recommended the deployment of the THAAD (Theater High Altitude Area Defense) missiles to South Korea," said Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti. South Korea, meanwhile, said its defense ministry will study any formal request for assistance on the matter that it gets from the U.S.

Budget cuts from sequestration could force furloughs at intelligence agencies, although a decision has not officially been made. "We're cutting real capability and accepting greater risk," said James Clapper, the director of national intelligence.

Pentagon budget cuts are taking effect sooner than expected due to little-noticed appropriations caps that reset this week because of the deficit supercommittee's failure last fall. The defense cuts are estimated to total as much as $8 billion. It's also expected that President Barack Obama's request for overseas contingencies and war operations will drop from $115 billion for the current fiscal year to $82.5 billion in the 2013 budget. Additional cuts will take place if sequestration measures are not repealed by Congress.